The Introvert Entrepreneur

Quiet: The Power of Introverts with Susan Cain

When people hear the word "introvert," they almost always think "shy," or picture someone with his nose buried in a book, or with noise-cancelling headphones as her constant companion. And it's true - we do like our solitude. We not only like it, we need it. But on the other hand, if we're called to bring an important message to the world, we're almost required to balance that solitude with celebrity, with putting ourselves out there and being more in the public eye. Now with the publication of her book ("Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"), a highly successful TED Talk, and a whirlwind of publicity, when people hear the word introvert, they're just as likely to think of Susan Cain as they are to think of the word shy. Susan has had to learn to walk that tightrope between solitude and celebrity, and I'm excited to share this conversation we had about her experience and advice for introverts who want to fully embrace their introvert personality. Susan shares with us:

• How she worked through her nervousness about public speaking
• What introverts can do to feel at ease in uncomfortable situations
• The benefits of being aligned with your passion
• Why understanding introversion is so important to the next generation

The Art + Science of Managing Your Energy with Kathryn Hunter

There's a marvelous quote by Martha Graham, simple in its truth. She says, "The body never lies." Over the years, I've noticed that one of the ways my introversion shows itself most strongly is that I live in my head. That means that I can sometimes ignore what my body is telling me, which can lead to all sorts of trouble. The trouble is usually around my energy management - or lack thereof. Introverts are especially aware of their energy, since it's a valuable currency that's frequently expended in the normal business of living in a highly social world. This podcast interview focuses on how we can increase our energy awareness and listen to our body's truth more closely. Kathryn Hunter is an introvert and an artist who, upon realizing the small size of the box she had created for her life, began chronicling the trials, successes and failures of stretching her comfort zone. Kathryn and I talk about how that all happened, plus

• The easy way to protect your precious energy
• How to turn anxiety into adventure
• One simple question that will shift your attitude
• The importance of "mental resets"
• Simple back-to-basics steps that will bring you energy and productivity

Finding the Athelete Within with Mike Margolies

For this first podcast of the new year, I'm going to share with you an interview I did back in the fall of 2011 but saved for now because the timing works so well. Maybe you're among the millions of people who use the new year as a catalyst to make some sort of resolution about their physical health, whether it's to be more active or take up a sport, or to learn how to relax and not go full throttle all the time. Physical activity is key to our overall health, and my guest today takes that truth even further by sharing with us the mental game that contributes to our health, for better or for worse. He calls it "the athlete within," and it's not just about being able to run around the track and not collapse when you're done... it's about taking care of yourself, body, mind and spirit, so that you can have energy for all of things that you want to accomplish. Athletes from all over the country have been seeking out Mike Margolies for close to thirty-five years for his expertise in helping them live up to their potential. They have sought his counsel and unique teaching style to learn about the game within the game. His new book is called "The Athlete within You," and it's intended for athletes and non-athletes working to achieve more in life. In this interview, you'll learn:

• What it means to have an "athlete within"
• The power of being AMPed up and finding your real motivation
• Why internal motivation - an introvert strength - is key to long-term success
• How to express yourself "on the field"
• Why being active requires relaxation

Beyond Thriving as an HSP with Ane Axford

Recently I was reading about the origin of fairy tales and various children’s stories. I happened upon the story behind The Princess and the Pea, and it fit perfectly into today’s podcast. In this day and age, being sensitive is sometimes regarded as being weak, or emotional, or thin skinned. You hear some people say, “Stop being so sensitive!” as if it were a disgrace to not only have feelings, but to show them.

This was not the case with the Princess and the Pea. On the contrary, sensitivity was a signal that a person was of royal blood. Think about that! It was desirable, and a mark of nobility, to be sensitive.

There are those among us – especially among us introverts – for whom emotions, feelings, sensations and the environment play a profound role in how we relate to the world. We are the HSPs, or Highly Sensitive Persons.

This interview with Ane Axford, CEO and founder of sensitive + thriving, Inc., is not only interesting, but life changing … at least it was for me. Ane and I explore what it means to be an HSP, and specifically, an introverted HSP.

We also talk about

• How introversion and HSP characteristics can look the same (but by definition, aren’t)
• Why finding a label to slap on yourself can be helpful
• The physiological underpinnings of “analysis paralysis”
• Turning Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs on its head (this blew my mind!)
• Why it’s important for entrepreneurs to move from comparison to connection

Unleashing the Power of the Mastermind with Cheri Ruskus

For some of us, putting ourselves in a situation where we have to reveal our dreams, fears and triumphs to our peers is taking a huge risk, even if we value the learning that might result. It's incredibly important to feel safe if we're going to share what we usually keep inside, especially regarding our entrepreneurial aspirations. In today's podcast, Cheri Ruskus of Victory Circles introduces us to a tool - the mastermind process - that provides a powerful way to create that safety so that you can make meaningful connections with others while strengthening your business. We learn how to tap into the wisdom of almost a century ago, when Napoleon Hill formulated the principles that have lead millions to success. Cheri shares how she developed her business around these principles and how they can be particularly supportive to introvert entrepreneurs. We learn about

• How a spirit of collaboration can bring you answers to the toughest challenges
• The best practices of thriving mastermind groups
• What can derail even the best intentions
• The benefits of mastermind principles on all of your relationships